Since New York magazine published an excerpt from writer E. Jean Carroll’s new memoir alleging President Donald Trump raped her in the mid-1990s, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network's National Sexual Assault Hotline saw a 53% increase in calls between Friday and Monday, among its highest spikes to date.

USA TODAY spoke with RAINN President Scott Berkowitz about the influx of callers and what sexual-assault survivors need when they're triggered by the news.

How does this spike compare to those around Brett Kavanaugh and other news stories on sexual violence?

"We generally do see a spike when some story about sexual assault is in the news, but this is higher than we normally see. The biggest we ever saw was the day after the Kavanaugh hearing (338%). It was not as big as that, but bigger than around the Cosby verdict (6%) and around the Access Hollywood tape (15%)."

E. Jean Carroll in New York, on June 23, 2019.(Photo: Craig Ruttle/AP)

Why do you think that is?

"I think at that time of the Access Hollywood tape, it was very late in the campaign and there was so much going on that even though it got a tremendous amount of attention, it didn't lead to as big an increase in calls. We're in a slower news period, so even though it's getting less press, it's resonating.

It's also the case that people tend to identify when there is a name and a face, just like they did when (Christine) Blasey Ford testified. So many people felt connected to her and felt they had experienced something similar, and I think that's what we're seeing."

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Christine Blasey Ford recounted a story of an alleged sexual assault by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Blasey Ford says she was at a small house party during high school when Kavanaugh forced himself on her.
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What do survivors who read Carroll's story call to talk about?

"A disproportionate number of people who call after a story like this breaks are calling about something that happened to them some time ago. So I think seeing someone talk about their experience — it dredges up memories that are always there, but that people try and not focus on so they can live their day-to-day lives.

The folks that are calling about something that happened a while ago are looking for emotional support, they're looking for someone empathetic who understands and who believes them, and who they can talk honestly to. That's a different type of call than the ones we receive in the immediate aftermath of an assault, in which case they're looking for practical advice, information on medical exams and help with reporting to police."

What can loved ones do to support survivors of sexual violence?

"There is a big role that loved ones can play here, and it's not that complicated. The most important thing is merely to be supportive and be understanding and to appreciate that this person you love is going through a tough time and reliving a terrible trauma that they experienced.

Be patient — they're not looking for you to solve their problem. They're looking for you to listen and talk and understand and to validate that it wasn't their fault."

Stormy Daniels: The former porn star allegedly had an affair with Trump after meeting him at a celebrity golf tournament in 2006. Daniels has sued to break an agreement that keeps her from telling her side of the story. Chris Pizzello, AP

Karen McDougal: In a lawsuit filed against American Media Inc., the former Playboy model claims she had a romantic relationship with Trump in 2006 and 2007. She is suing AMI, which allegedly paid her $150,000, to break her silence on the alleged affair Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images for Playboy

Summer Zervos: The former "Apprentice" contestant has accused the president of sexual misconduct, including kissing and groping her in the years after she left the show. She has filed suit against him, saying he made defamatory remarks about her after she came forward with her story.
Seen here, Summer Zervos, left, stands with her lawyer Gloria Allred outside the New York County Criminal Court on Dec. 5, 2017, in New York. The judge in the case allowed on March 20, 2018, Zervos' defamation suit against Trump to proceed. Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY

Jessica Drake: The porn star accused Trump of grabbing her, kissing her and offering her $10,000 for sex. She reportedly is unable to discuss Trump because of an NDA.
Seen here, Jessica Drake, right, reads a statement in which she alleges Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump sexually harassed her at a 2006 golf event in Lake Tahoe at a press conference held by attorney Gloria Allred, left, in Los AngeleA on Oct. 22, 2016. Mike Nelson, epa

Temple Taggart McDowell: The former Miss Utah competed in the 1997 Miss USA pageant. She said Trump embraced her and kissed her on the lips during a rehearsal. Later, after Trump offered to get her modeling contracts, he again embraced and kissed her in New York.
Seen here, Temple Taggart McDowell, right, and Gloria Allred hold a press conference at Little America Hotel on Oct. 28, 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Chad Hurst, Getty Images

Tasha Dixon: The former Miss Arizona described meeting Trump while she competed in the 2001 Miss USA pageant. She said Trump came into rehearsal while women were changing, with some topless and others naked.
Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images

Samantha Holvey: The former Miss North Carolina competed in the 2006 Miss USA pageant. According to Holvey, Trump "personally inspected each woman" before the pageant, which made her feel like a "piece of meat."
Seen here, Samantha Holvey speaks during the press conference held by women accusing Trump of sexual harassment on Dec. 11, 2017 in New York. Monica Schipper, Getty Images

Ninni Laaksonen: The former Miss Finland, second from left, said Trump groped her in 2006 before she appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman with Trump and other Miss Universe contestants.
Donald Trump posed with Miss Universe contestants during the July 17, 2006 visit to the "Late Show with David Letterman." James Devaney, WireImage

Jennifer Murphy: A former "Apprentice" contestant and a former Miss Oregon, Murphy said Trump kissed her during a job interview in 2005. After she told her story in 2016, she said she still planned on voting for Trump. Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Jessica Leeds: Leeds claims Trump grabbed her breasts and tried to put his hand up her skirt during a flight to New York in the 1970s. In a 2017 interview, Leeds said she saw Trump at a gala and he referred to her as a c---.
Seen here, Jessica Leeds speaks during the press conference held by women accusing Trump of sexual harassment on Dec. 11, 2017 in New York. Monica Schipper, Getty Images

Rachel Crooks -- Crooks alleges Trump forcibly kissed her while waiting for an elevator at Trump Tower in 2006. At the time, Crooks was a receptionist at a real estate firm in the building.
Seen here, Rachel Crooks speaks during the press conference held by women accusing Trump of sexual harassment on Dec. 11, 2017 in New York. Monica Schipper, Getty Images

Natasha Stoynoff: The former "People" writer said she had a run-in with Trump while she was covering him and Melania Trump, then pregnant, in 2005. She said he shut the door after they walked into a room together, and forced "his tongue down my throat." Andrew Francis Wallace, Toronto Star via Getty Images

Karena Virginia" Virginia alleged she met Trump in 1998 while waiting for a car service to pick her up. Trump started talking about her, then allegedly grabbed her arm and his hand touched the inside of her breast.
Seen here, Karena Virginia, right, reads a statement in which she accused the Republican Party presidential candidate Donald Trump of unwanted sexual advances back in 1998, while sitting with attorney Gloria Allred, left, during a press conference in New York on Oct. 20, 2016. Justin Lane, epa